Coalport Bute cups

Bute cups were produced  by John Rose and Thomas Rose (1800-1814), two brothers working on either side of a small canal  at Coalport  on the river Severn near Ironbridge, Shropshire. (see Edmundson, 1982, 2000; Godden, 1970)

Identification depends on the simple loop handle with pointed upper and lower attachments.  The cups are quite heavily made and wall thickness increases towards the base.  The cup wall curves in smoothly towards the bottom which is curved and often has a small raised dimple in the centre.

Examples
Thomas Rose, Coalport
Rather narrow simple loop handles (see left), set near the top rim, and  less than 8mm in width near their top attachment and about 5mm in width near bottom. Both attachments are pointed.  Sometimes pattern number on base (2-4 mm). The fluted coffee can has a wider handle and the top attachment is more rounded (see right)

Note: some cups in this group have distinctly narrower handles but can occur in the same service as those with the more usual handle (click for examples).

 A cup with a simple "loop" handle of the Coalport type. It has "strawberry" pattern painted round inside of rim. No mark but this is pattern 8 (see Edmundson, 2000). Very shallow foot recess with obtuse corner. ?Thomas Rose. (aj132, h60.3, w82, b37.4 handle: h15.2, v33.8, w7, 4.9)
 A coffee can with a simple "loop" handle and 16 flutes. It has "strawberry" pattern painted round inside of rim. Pattern number 8 painted in pink (~4mm) on base. (see Edmundson, 2000). Shallow foot recess with obtuse corner. ?Thomas Rose. (aj162, h63.9, w69.4, b56 handle: h17.8, v35.7, w9, 6.3)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle of the Coalport type. It has a flower painted inside on bottom. Pattern number 30 painted in red (~2mm) on the base which has neat curved insides edges. Edmundson says Thomas Rose. (aj023, h60.7, w82.1, b37.6 handle: h16.1, v34.2, w7.6, 4.9) 
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. No mark but this is pattern number 134. Thomas Rose. (a061, h60.3, w81.8, b38.2 (42.6) handle: h13.7, v32.4, w7.7, 5.2)518 
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. No mark  Thomas Rose. (aj455, h61.4, w81.7, b36 (41.6) handle: h14.6 (20.3), v32.5, w7.7, 5.2, t3.8) 
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. No mark No gilt. Thomas Rose. (aj440, h60.8, w80.6, b35.2 (40.8) handle: h15.7 (20.8), v33.7, w7.6, 5.3, t4.3) 
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Very shallow foot recess with obtuse corner.  Possibly Thomas Rose. cf aj132 (aj009, h61.3, w81.7, bhandle: h15.2, v33.1, w7.4, 5)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Possibly Thomas Rose.  (a056, h61.2, w82.1, b38.4 (42.8) handle: h15.6, v32.7, w7.0, 5.2)524
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Possibly Thomas Rose.  (aj413, h59.6, w82, b38 (43.4) handle: h13.8 (19.2), v32.3, w7.8, 5.3, t4.6)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  Possibly Thomas Rose.  (a055, h60.6, w81.8, b37.2 (42.8) handle: h15.7, v33.9, w7.5, 5.3)552
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Shallow foot recess with neat curved insides edges.  Possibly Thomas Rose.  (aj153, h61.5, w83, b38 handle: h15.5, v33.7, w7.6, 5.1)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Shallow foot recess with bevelled inside edges.  Possibly Thomas Rose.  (aj198, h59.6, w83, b36.5 (41.5) handle: h15.3 (20.4), v32.6, w7.6, 5.2)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. No mark but pattern 983. Thomas Rose.  (a058, h60.2, w80.9, b37.8 (43.9) handle: h14.8, v32.5, w7.9, 5.6)555
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Shallow foot recess with obtuse corner.  Possibly Thomas Rose.  (aj156, h59.8, w81.2, b38.3 handle: h15.7, v33.7, w7.4, 5)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Foot recess with obtuse corner 3.2mm.  Bat print of castle in landscape. See creamers in same pattern in Edmundson (2000). Possibly Thomas Rose.  (aj311, h60.9, w81.1, b39 (42.7)handle: h13.9 (20.3), v32.6, w7.7, 5.3)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  Marked pattern number 315+. Possibly Thomas Rose. (a048, h61.0, w82.2, b36.3(41.6) handle: h14.6, v33.2, w7.8, 5.4)556
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. This handle is rounder, protrudes more from the cup and is shorter than most others in this group.  Not marked but this is pattern number 819. ? Thomas Rose. (a059, h60.4, w82.4, b38 (44.5) handle: h17, v31.2, w7.2, 5.3)557
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  Possibly Thomas Rose. (a051, h60.7, w82.4, b38.7(43) handle: h15.4, v32.9, w7.5, 5.1)546
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  ? Thomas Rose. (a060, h60.7, w81.5, b37.5 (44.6) handle: h15.1, v33.9, w8.3, 5.8)554
 A cup with a  simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments pointed. Gilding  rubbed. ? Thomas Rose. (aj355, h60.2, w78.4, b36.4 (42.4) handle: h14.6 (20.5), v33.5, w7.7, 5.4, t4.8)
Examples with the narrower handle
 A cup with a narrow simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments pointed. Gilding  rubbed. ? Thomas Rose. (aj354, h58, w78, b38 (41.9) handle: h15 (20.3), v32.4, w6.6, 4.7, t4.7)
 A cup with a narrow simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments pointed.  ? Thomas Rose. (aj336, h62.1, w78.9, b36.9 (41.8) handle: h15.1 (20.4), v32.4, w6.7, 4.8, t4.8)
 A cup with a narrow simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments pointed. Gilding badly rubbed. ? Thomas Rose. (aj249, h60.4, w79.6, b37.2 (44.1) handle: h14.8, v32.4, w6.7, 4.7, t4.6)
 A cup with a narrow simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments pointed. Gilding  rubbed on handle.  ? Thomas Rose. (aj257, h61.7, w79.9, b37.1 (41.9) handle: h15.1, v31, w6.8, 4.6, t5.1)
John Rose Coalport type

Simple loop handle, set near the top rim, and  8 to 9mm in width near the top. Both top and bottom attachments are pointed. There are two groups: type 1 with more generous handles the bottom attachment is closely pressed to the cup (eg aj87); in type 2 the handle is less generous and protrudes at its bottom attachment (eg aj50). Underneath all cups the inside base edge is straight and is vertical or slopes inwards from flat foot. ?No pattern numbers.
Type 1 loop handles.
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  John Rose as known print pattern. (a046, h59.6, w78.4, b38.7(43.8)  handle: h16.1, v32.4, w8.6, 6.9)88
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Base has small outwards dimple on inside, foot recess with bevelled edges. Possibly John Rose. (aj087, h59.9, w81, b38.6 handle: h17.7, v35, w9, 6.4)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Base has small outwards dimple on inside, foot recess with rounded edges. Possibly John Rose. (aj582, h59.5, w77.7, b35 (40.6) handle: h16.8 (21.6), v34.9, w8.6, 6.2, t3.6)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Base fairly flat on inside, foot recess with bevelled edges. Possibly John Rose. (aj365, h60.7, w77.6, b35.2 (40.8) handle: h17.3 (22.2), v34.8, w9.3, 6.5, t4.3)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  Possibly John Rose. (a047, h61.4, w80.6, b37.7 (42)  handle: h17.1, v35.4, w8.7, 6.4)115
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  Possibly John Rose. (a049, h59.3, w79.4, b37.5 (43.3)  handle: h17.5, v34.6, w8.7, 6.5)536
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed.  Possibly John Rose. (a050, h60.2, w79.2, b37.1 (42.7)  handle: h18.3, v35.2, w8.7, 6.3)553
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Thickly potted towards base, foot recess with bevelled edges. Possibly John Rose. (aj051, h61.1, w80, b38.6 handle: h18.1, v34.7, w8.9, 6.2)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Unusual rather even wall thickness and flat bottom inside. Possibly John Rose. (aj694, h60.5, w79.3, b34.5 (42) handle: h16.9, v33.2, w8.3, 5.9)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Thickly potted towards base, foot recess with rounded edges.  Detailed flowers painting in cartouche. Possibly John Rose Coalport. (aj451, h59.2, w78.1, b37.2 (43.4) handle: h15.9 (21.2), v31.6, w8.6, 6.1, t3.4)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Thickly potted towards base, foot recess with bevelled edges.  Painted monochrome scene of sailing boats. Possibly John Rose Coalport. (aj172, h60.4, w81.8, b38.6 handle: h17.2, v36, w9.1, 6.4)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle (broken in 3 places) with top and bottom attachments pointed. Unusual reeding which fades towards the base. Thickly potted towards base, foot recess deep (4.3mm) with bevelled edges.  Possibly John Rose Coalport. (a042, h58.8, w80.9, b36.2 (41.0) handle: h18.3, v33.1, w9.4, 6.9)442
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments pointed. Unusual reeding which fades towards the base. Thickly potted towards base, foot recess with bevelled edges.  Possibly John Rose Coalport. (a043, h56.7, w79.7, b36.3 (41.7) handle: h17.2, v33.3, w9.4, 6.5)441
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Base has small outwards dimple on both sides, recess with bevelled edges.. Possibly John Rose.  (aj070, h61.2, w79.8, b37.6 handle: h17.2, v33.3, w8.5, 6.4)
Type 2 loop handles with protruding lower attachment.
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Thickly potted towards bottom which has distinct small outwards dimple. Patt. 90 in grey-brown on base which has neat curved insides edges. Edmundson says John Rose. (a001, h57.3, w88.9, b40, handle: h16.4, v32.2, w8.5) Wrights.

A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Base has outwards dimple on inside, recess with vertical edges.. Possibly John Rose. (aj568, h59.7, w84.3, b37.8 (42.5)handle: h15.4 (19.7), v31.9, w8.7, 6.7, t4)

A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Base has outwards dimple on both sides, recess with bevelled edges.. Possibly John Rose. (aj050, h61.1, w80, b37.4 handle: h15.8, v30.1, w8, 6.1)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle. Shallow foot recess with near vertical sides.  Came with bridge-spout teapot in same pattern with typical Thomas Rose knob, but cup handle is wide.  (aj159, h60.2, w79.3, b38.2 handle: h14.9, v31, w8.2, 6.1)

A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Base has outwards dimple on both sides, recess with bevelled edges.. Possibly John Rose. (aj170, h61.7, w80.3, b38.9 handle: h14.1, v30.1, w8.3, 6.4)

A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Recess with bevelled edges.. Possibly John Rose. (aj595, h59.5, w79.8, b38.0 (43.7) handle: h14.9 (21), v33.4, w8.1, 5.6, t3.7)

A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Recess with near vertical edges.. Possibly John Rose. (aj255, h59.5, w80.2, b38.0 (43.2) handle: h15.2, v30.8, w8.7, 6.5, t4.2)

A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Recess with bevelled edges. Gilding very rubbed. Possibly John Rose. (aj594, h61.3, w79.2, b38.0 (44.3) handle: h14.9 (21.2), v30.8, w8.2, 5.8, t3.6)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base which has small outwards dimple. Foot recess with bevelled edges. Possibly John Rose. (aj060, h62, w79.6, b36.9, handle: h15.3, v30.5, w9.2, 6.7)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base. Shallow foot recess with vertical edges. This pattern seen with French handles (see below) and low oval teapot. Possibly John Rose. (aj281, h57.6, w80.7, b39.4, handle: h15.2, v32.4, w8.7, 6.5, t4.3)
A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment v-shaped and bottom attachment protruding. Fairly even wall thickness with slight flair near rim. Foot recess with near vertical edges. Possibly Coalport. (aj101, h58.8, w78.7, b38.1, handle: h16, v31, w8.3, 6.2)
A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed and bottom attachment protruding. Thickly potted towards base which has an obvious outwards dimple. Foot recess with bevelled edges. Tudor House say its Coalport. (aj085, h60.5, w80, b38.2, handle: h15, v31, w8.7, 6.4)

French style or square handle. More commonly large with both top and bottom attachments rounded. Less common , smaller French handle with square top and pointed bottom attachments. This smaller handle seen on coffee cans in set with low-oval teapot where bute teacups had larger French style handles. Underneath the cup the inside base edge is straight and slopes inwards slightly.

Cup with French handle. Solidly potted, grey/white body. Foot recess with bevelled edges. Possibly John Rose Coalport? (aj134, h57.6, w76.9, b37.4, handle: v36.8, h13.3, w8.6, 6.4)
Cup with French handle. Roger Edmundson identifies as Coalport, probably John Rose. (a011) Edmundson.
Cup with small French handle with square top and pointed bottom attachments.  No mark but pattern, size and potting similar to other Coalport cups. Came with curved sided saucer.  Possibly  Coalport. (aj394  h60.3, w78.9, b37.5, (41.5) handle: v28.7, h13.7 (20.1), w8.4, 5.7)
"Coalport" group

Many cups have simple loop handles with pointed attachments like those made at Coalport by the Rose brothers but the cup and handle shapes differ. These cups may be Coalport but could be the work of other makers. 

 A cup with a generous, simple "loop" handle set well down from the rim with pointed attachments. Shallow foot recess with obtuse corner. "Church Gresley" pattern.   Handle is narrow .  (aj161, h59.5, w77.6, b37 handle: h16.9, v34.2, w7.6, 5.6)
 A cup with a generous, simple "loop" handle set well down from the rim with pointed attachments. Thickly potted towards base, foot recess with nearly vertical edges. Greyish body.  (aj154, h59.7, w78.3, b38.3 handle: h18.5, v35.5, w8.8, 6.6)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top attachment pointed. Base has small outwards dimple on inside, foot recess with vertical edges. Possibly John Rose. (aj317, h58.8, w76.6, b36.3 (41.9) handle: h16.8 (22.2), v34.3, w8.8, 5.8)
 A cup with a generous, simple "loop" handle with  pointed attachments. Thickly potted towards base, recess with vertical edges.  (aj155, h60, w79.1, b38.2 handle: h18.4, v33.2, w8, 6)
 A cup with a  simple "loop" handle with  pointed top attachment and slightly wider, v-shaped bottom attachment (similar to the "unknown" group of Hamilton flutes). Thickly potted towards base, recess with vertical edges. Gilding badly rubbed. (aj234, h58.2, w77.8, b37.3 (41)  handle: h16.9, v36.3, w10, 7, t4.3)
 A cup with a  simple "loop" handle with  pointed top attachment and slightly wider, v-shaped bottom attachment (similar to the "unknown" group of Hamilton flutes). Thickly potted towards base, recess with vertical edges.  (aj315, h60, w76.9, b38 (43)  handle: h15.6 (20.5), v35.8, w9.7, 6.5, t4.4)
 A cup with a  wide simple "loop" handle with  pointed top attachment and v-shaped bottom attachment. Thickly potted towards base, recess with curved edges. Gilding  rubbed. (aj269, h61, w77.3, b36.6 (41.4)  handle: h17.5, v33.1, w9.6, 6.8, t4.1)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle, eye-shaped in section, with top attachment pointed. Even wall thickness and flat bottom inside. Shallow foot recess with shallow curved sides. ?Coalport.  (aj160, h60.2, w79.3, b38.2 handle: h16.6, v32.4, w8.9, 6.4)
 A cup with a simple "loop" handle, eye-shaped in section, with top attachment pointed. Thickly potted towards base, recess with nearly vertical edges.  (aj149, h60.5, w78.3, b38.2 handle: h16.6, v33.9, w8.5, 6.4)
A cup with a simple "loop" handle with top and bottom attachment pointed. Thickly potted towards base. Deep foot recess (5.2mm) with vertical edges.  (aj147, h61.3, w83.2, b38.8, handle: h15.2, v31.8, w8.7, 6.2)
A cup with a generous but delicate "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments bluntly pointed. Cup thicker towards base. This cup was with other cups with typical John Rose handles. Matching slop bowl has patt. 191 in gilt on base. (aj370, h60.8, w80.9, b38.3 (43.2) handle: h17.5 (22.6), v31.5, w6.7, 5, t4.2 )  
A cup with a generous but delicate "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments bluntly pointed. Cup thicker towards base. (aj521, h59.2, w80.9, b35.6 (41.4) handle: h17.6 (22.6), v30.7, w6.7, 5, t4.5) 
A cup with a generous but delicate "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments bluntly pointed. Cup thicker towards base, with inside raised dimple. (aj179, h59.6, w82.1, b35.5 handle: h14.8, v30, w6.9, 5.5) 
A cup with a generous but delicate "loop" handle with top and bottom attachments bluntly pointed. Cup with fairly even wall thickness and flat bottom inside. White body. Pattern as New Hall 562. Cookes suggest Davenport replacing New Hall.  (aj335, h59.9, w81.7, b35.9 (40.9) handle: h15.8 (21.6), v30, w7.1, 5.4, t4.4) 
A cup with a simple "loop" handle, eye-shaped in section, with top attachment rounded. Base wide and  has small outwards dimple on inside. Foot recess shallow with gently curved edges. Body distinctly blueish.  (aj078, h58.9, w79.9, b40.4 handle: h15.7, v32.5, w8.9, 6.4)

References

Godden, G. A. (1970) "Coalport and Coalbrookdale porcelains." Barrie and Jenkins, London.

Edmundson, R. S. (1982) "Thomas Rose and the other works at Coalport, Messrs Anstice, Horton and Rose" Antique Collecting, Feb 1982, Vol 16 no 9.

Edmundson, R. S. (2000)"A bicentenary exhibition of Thomas Rose's Coalport porcelains c1800 - 1814" catalogue, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust.

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